BiCE’s New Milanese Bistro Open in Midtown West; Gary Robbins PreparingBedford-Stuyvesant: Egg didn’t make this list of top southern eats, but Five Spot Soul Food at 459 Myrtle Avenue was picked as a fave since dishes like Kentucky Turkey Chops and Charleston Low Country Smothered Chicken “sound good” even if they’re not necessarily authentic classics. [Gridskipper]
Chelsea: Klee Brasserie’s open for brunch and dinner on Easter, and you can order the “Thinly Sliced Easter Ham & Bio Egg,” which combines honey-glazed ham, deviled eggs, and capers, at both seatings. [Grub Street]
Lower East Side: The new vegetarian restaurant Broadway East adds to its sustainability cred by featuring local beer and wine. [Zagat Buzz]
Midtown East: The first soft-shell crabs of the season are now available at the Oyster Bar. [Grub Street]
Midtown West: Bistro Milano from team BiCE has opened at 1350 Sixth Avenue, and sidewalk seating opening this spring will double the restaurant’s 70-cover capacity. [TONY]
West Village: “Chef Gary Robins was the best thing to happen to the most recent Russian Tea Room relaunch. So, naturally, he was fired.” But, you’ll be able to taste his cooking downtown this spring, when rustic restaurant Sheridan Square opens at 134 Seventh Avenue South. [Bottomless Dish/Citysearch]
Neighborhood Watch
Chicken & Beer a Chelsea Favorite; Miraculous Iced Tea From Midtown EastAstoria: Check out photos of both the interior and the baked goods at newly opened coffeehouse the Soleil Cafe, on Astoria Boulevard South near 38th Street. [Joey in Astoria]
Chelsea: There goes the neighborhood: a sushi restaurant at 23rd Street has been replaced by a new spot called Chicken & Beer. “What next, ‘Hamburgers and Crack?’” [Blog Chelsea] Klee Brasserie has added dishes like Lowenbrau sauerkraut with Kobe bratwurst and warm apple strudel to its menu in honor of Oktoberfest. [Eat for Victory/VV]
Clinton Hill: Thirty-year-old Gourmet Kitchen closes for good on September 30. [Clinton Hill Blog]
East Village: The Joy of Sake (with all its tasty bites) is this Thursday. [NYM]
Lower East Side: Rosario’s Pizza isn’t good but should be honored because “there should always be room in every NYC neighborhood for a basic slice joint.” [Lost City]
Midtown East: New Japanese tea and sweet shop Tafu, on 51st Street near Third Avenue, not only serves extraordinary brews but also an imported thermos which keeps ice frozen for seventeen hours. [Mouthing Off/Food & Wine]
Neighborhood Watch
Shopsin’s Arrives At Last in Its New Lower East Side BerthChelsea: Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano will not utilize the old Plaid space for their next club; 1OAK (One of a Kind) is now set for 17th between Ninth and Tenth. [Down by the Hipster] Klee Brasserie will give out its new peach sangria for free this Sunday to mark Gay Pride Day. [NYS]
Lower East Side: Shopsin’s finally open in the Essex Street Market. [Eater]
Midwood: DiFara open tomorrow? No, but “maybe Friday.” [Lost City]
Upper East Side: Owners of recently departed Jovia will give the townhouse space a more casual feel with a name and menu reminiscent of the owners’ Soho restaurant, Zoë. [NYT]
West Village: Jefferson Market has the single-origin-chocolate ice creams from Choctál newly imported from California. [NYT]
The Other Critics
Morandi Takes Another Hit; a Haute Barnyard SpreeThe Four Seasons gets perhaps the most negative two-star review in the history of the Times; Bruni seems to think the stars were grandfathered in. A telling example of how reputation floats reviews. [NYT]
Meehan, meanwhile, visits a chowhound’s paradise, a Hindu temple in Flushing. [NYT]
Morandi takes another blow, this time from Time Out’s Randall Lane, who like our own Adam Platt, finds it overdesigned and unimpressive, albeit with a few decent dishes. [TONY]
Related: Not So Bene [NYM]
In the Magazine
From Chelsea to Chinatown
In this week’s magazine, high-end restaurants and the doings of midtown Michelin hopefuls take a back seat to the wonders of Chinatown — and the pleasures, spread out across the city, of the Year of the Pig.
The Other Critics
Critics Keep Up the Steakhouse Shuffle; Ramsay ReviewedRamsay strikes a chord with Ryan Sutton: “This is artful food that makes you ponder the meaning of life, but it’s also accessible, gutsy fare that excites the senses and fills the tummy.” [Bloomberg]
Bruni does the ever popular steak two-fer (witness Platt’s double-up on STK and Lonesome Dove), declares Porter House New York “an M.B.A. program for beef eaters who did undergraduate work at Outback,” turning out “well-sourced, well-prepared flesh” though getting into trouble elsewhere. Despite the limo-like seats, he’s not grooving to the beat (or the meat) at the other spot: “STK might want to think about buying some soundproofing, along with a vowel.” [NYT]
Richman isn’t convinced Porter House New York is a steakhouse, or at least as good of one as its predecessor V. Instead it’s “an accessible, sensible eating establishment with decent prices and classy, comprehensible food.” [Bloomberg]
Back of the House
Batali and Ramsay Serve Feet to Own Mouths; the Demise of Krispy Kreme?Mr. Nasty disses Keller and Robuchon, says the grub’s better in London, tries to poach Ducasse’s staff, and admits he’s “f****** shitting” himself. [Sunday Times of London]
Clearly, he’s “not looking to take New York by storm.” [The Independent]
Batali and landlord get into a pissing contest of sorts. [Gawker]
Klee’s and Kyotofu’s menus unveiled; Freitag gives Gusto a menu makeover. [Strong Buzz]
“The corner of West 12th and West Fourth Streets is one that cabbies will have to get used to.” [NYT]
Related: Fall Preview: Great Eats on Seventh Avenue South
Would a trans-fat ban put the kibosh on Krispy Kreme? [NYP]
Monkey-arm purveyor meets the long arm of the law. [NYP]